A glittering clientele required glittering entertainment. Yes, Madeleine had conceived this Suplexing for Smiles charity as a wrestling venue, but in her experience, it was wise to provide charitable types with a wide array of delicacies to enjoy. You wanted to convince the real high rollers that you had taste. And so she had invited Bill Edwards' Swingin' Lodestar Band to perform onstage to open things up.
Madeleine stood just off stage, tapping her foot along as the trumpets soared to brassy heights and the trombones slid and honked along to their infectious rhythm. She loved the glitter of their instruments, the energy in their performance, the sheer intense fun of their performance, and when the last face-scrunching, vein-popping blast from the brass band exploded out into the audience, Madeleine walked onstage genuinely beaming.
"Ladies and gentlemen, that was Bill Edwards with the Swinging...Lodestar Band!" She lifted her hands and applauded through the microphone. Turn once, watch Bill bow. She made sure to give the big round jolly saxophonist his moment in the sun, to bow and wave as he and his crew picked up and then shuffled offstage.
"Thank you Bill!" Bill hadn't come cheap—and that was the point. This wasn't Madeleine begging for cash. This was a refined opportunity for the good people out in the seats to contribute their money to a respectable and worthwhile cause. To build a name and a legacy. She turned to the crowd. "And thank you for being here!"
The fundraiser had drawn all types — the fancy types in slacks and ties, dresses and heels; the obvious wrestling fans with logos and favorite wrestlers plastered on their T-shirts. They were all here for music, for entertainment, for wrestling, and for charity. Madeleine greeted them all in the Ueno Park Ampitheatre. She spoke into a handheld mic, her voice echoing through the sound system.
The Countess
The Venue
The crowd met her announcement with polite applause, which she accepted, graciously, as she paced the stage. Now for the bit that actually mattered. She smiled all the wider and caught eyes here, then there. Engaging her fans-to-be as eagerly as she might. "So! Without further ado, I'd like to announce our first event. Akira-san, if you would—"
A stagehand walked on stage and handed Madeleine a stuffed cat. It was a little larger than Madeleine's head, had sky-blue marble eyes, a big red bow on its neck, and fur the texture of a microfiber rag. Madeleine hugged it tight against her cheek before presenting it to the audience.
The Cat
"And today, I'm going to be wrestling on her behalf." Madeleine's ruby eyes scanned the audience. There were fancy folks, there were fans, but the most important gaggle of onlookers—those were the wrestlers themselves. The talent. Her eyes paused where she found them, issuing her offer to them with a smile and a cool gaze. "This is a challenge I'm issuing. In case you didn't catch that. I'm inviting anyone who wants to approach the stage. Offer me a match of any type you like. Choose any nearby venue under LAW's management. And we'll have our match for all these lovely onlookers. Proceeds go to St. Marigal. Winner gets Annabelle to do with as she likes."
Efficiency: Sell your toys. Build good will as a company and fresh talent at LAW. Scalp a competitor with spotlight-bright visibility. Stone meet bird.
"Do we have any takers?"
